U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today recognized the San Antonio Housing Authority for its work over the past two years to help families displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The SAHA was one of 17 agencies in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia honored for its work in the Katrina-Rita Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP), which helped 37,000 families with rental assistance and other guidance while they searched for permanent housing.

“In the coming days families will gather at home to celebrate the holiday season, ” said Donovan, who worked with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on the program.

“It was people in the room, and many others who are not, who helped make it possible for thousands of families, whose lives and homes were ravaged four years ago, to have the comfort of a home for this holiday season.